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Chapter 10
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ:
2024-06-14 06:47:19
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The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 11
JOAN'S POVI laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep. My mind was filled with so many thoughts.I was worried about my mother. She was still unconscious. I called the doctor and the nurses earlier. They all assured me that she was fine. Even with that, I couldn't help but worry. I hoped she would be okay. Everyday, the fear of receiving a tragic phone call haunted me. I feared that the call that would shatter my world completely. I prayed that the call would never come. I felt like a ticking time bomb. I closed my eyes, trying to force myself to sleep. But every time I did, memories of my mother's smiling face would show up in my head. Tears pricked at my eyes. I missed her so much. I wished I could be by her side. A knock on my door broke through my thoughts. I hesitated. Who could it be at this hour? My mind raced with possibilities. The knock sounded again. I slipped out of bed and walked to the door."Joan, it's Emily," a familiar voice whispered from the other
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-06-20The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 12
JOAN'S POVI stared at her in shock. She was the lady from the armor room, the one who was stating at me. She's real. I thought it was just a figment of my imagination. I bowed my head respectfully "Good afternoon, Lady Irene."She was seated by the window, looking at her laptop. The sunlight shone on her skin. As I looked up, I couldnât help but marvel at her beauty. The magazines and blogs that featured her did her no justice. In person, Lady Irene was breathtaking. Her porcelain skin glowed and her pretty brown eyes twinkle in the sunlight. She had long and luscious auburn hair. "Hello, Joan," she said in a nice tone. I was surprised. I thought she would ignore me but she actually sounded nice. I smiled weakly "I'm here to clean your room. Is this a good time?" "Yes. You can go ahead. Thank you" "Okay then" I was about to get started but her voice stopped me once more "I've heard a lot about you," Lady Irene said "Youâve been doing an excellent job around the house.""Thank
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-06-24The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 13
DERRICK'S POVI sat at the edge of my bed, smoking a blunt. I let the smoke fill my lungs, hoping it would calm me down. My mind was filled with the thoughts of the drug deal I had to make with the Mexicans that evening. The particular Mexican family I wanted to deal with weren't easy people to deal with. The stakes were high. In fact, the potential for disaster was even higher. I could feel the thoughts of it pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe, hard to think clearly.I needed to get my mind off the deal, to find some way to relax. I thought smoking would help but I had smoked like two blunts already. I needed an activity to distract me. I grabbed the intercom and summoned Miss Sullivan to my room. I had the perfect idea. In a few seconds, Miss Sullivan knocked on the door. "Come in" I said. She entered with her usual smile on her face. "What can I do for you, Sir Derrick?" she asked me. âPrepare the horses,â I said. She nodded then left. I thought about it. Horse ri
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-06-27The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 14
JOAN'S POVI woke up to the sound of soft murmuring. Slowly, my eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the morning light coming through the windows. A figure stood by my bedside, and as my vision cleared, I saw that it was a man. "Good morning, Joan," the man said with a smile. "How are you feeling?"I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, and I sank back into the pillows."A bit lightheaded," I admitted. "And sore""That's to be expected. You went through quite an ordeal. Your body needs time to recover from the shock. I recommend you rest as much as possible for the next few days.""Are you a doctor?" I asked him. "Yes, I am. If you don't mind, I'd like to check your vitals" "Okay" The doctor used his stethoscope to check my heartbeat. He proceeded to check my pulse and examining the bruises that were on my skin. After a few minutes, he stepped back and gave me a nod of approval."You'll be fine with rest and care," he assured me. "I'll check on you again tomorrow.
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-07-04The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 15
DERRICKâS POV. I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep. Every single time I closed my eyes, I remembered Joan's face. My body still recalled the arousal from the previous night when I had rescued her. The memory of her soft, smooth, velvety skin pressed against mine was seared into my brain. I could still feel the warmth of her body. I could still feel the subtle curve of her waist beneath my fingertips.How could I even get aroused at a time like that? What the hell is she doing to me? "Damn it," I muttered, running a hand through my hair in frustration. I had to get her out of my mind. She was just a maid, a servant in my mansion. I had no business thinking of her in such an intimate way. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get rid of the image of her beautiful face. I turned onto my side, staring at the empty space next to me. I could still smell her faint scent as is scooped her into my arms. She smelled like vanilla. It was intoxicating, and I hated
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-07-04The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 16
JOAN'S POVSitting on Lady Irene's bed felt surreal. Yes, you heard that right. After I was done tidying up her room she invited me to sit with her on one of the long couches by the window to have a chat. I was beyond surprised. When she asked me, I had to turn back to make sure I was the one she was talking to. The lavish feel of the couch and plush pillows screamed luxury. Lady Irene sat beside me. She was talking non-stop, and I tried to focus on her words, not wanting to seem distracted or, worse, disrespectful."Have you ever tried these?" Lady Irene held up a tiny, delicate macaron. "Theyâre from this lovely patisserie in Paris. I just got back yesterday. They taste lovely! Have some"I managed a small smile, accepting the treat. "Thank you, Lady Irene.""Oh, please, just Irene," she insisted with a wave of her hand. "Weâre not in some ballroom. Besides, formality is so overrated."I was shocked by her words. Why was Lady Irene, a figure of high society, spending her time with
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-07-11The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 17
DERRICKâS POV I stormed into the barn with my associate, Ken. The sounds of laughter stopped as soon as the maids saw me. Joan stood among them, looking beautiful as ever. She seemed more relaxed and at ease than Iâd ever seen her. The sight of her made something tighten in my chest. They stood up immediately. "Good day, sir" they chorused "Whatâs going on here?" I asked. "We were just taking a break" Emily said "We're sorry, sir" My eyes landed on Joan. I noticed how timid and scared she looked. She was basically shaking in her spot. I could tell she was anxious with the way she played with the hem of her dress. Emily and Sarah walked out of the barn. Joan was about to leave as well until I stopped her. "Joan" I said "Stop" She turned to look at me. Her beautiful brown eyes pierced through mine, making my heart pause for a second. In that moment, all I wanted to do was just talk to her. I wanted to ask her how she was and how she was feeling. I wanted to mak
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-07-18The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 18
JOAN'S POVNow that I had seen my mom, I felt a lot lighter. I spent the rest of my day off going to my mom's house and cleaning it up for her. The house was dusty and a bit damp due to how empty it had been for a while. I was happy to clean. When my mom goes back home, I wanted her to meet a neat place. I was certain that she would be okay again. She had to be. The next day, it was time to go back to work. I booked a taxi and made my way back to the Stonewood mansion. It had been just a day but I missed it. I missed everyone. It was a bit weird but this place seemed like home now. The people there treated me well and made me feel welcome. When we arrived, I got down from the cab and walked through the entrance of the mansion. As I entered, I couldn't help but feel a bit excited. However, my excitement quickly gave way to confusion when I finally stepped inside. The air was heavy, and the other workers seemed to be speaking in hushed tones. Something was definitely off.I made my
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-07-20
āļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 64
DERRICKâS POVThe car was filled with an unbearable tension. I could feel it pressing down on me, suffocating me. Joan sat beside me in the backseat. She didnât look bothered about me at all. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the darkened city outside the window.She acted like everything was normal, like she didnât just stand up to or subtly threaten a mafia boss. I knew Antonio wouldnât take it lightly. Still, it was fun to watch. I didnât know she had that kind of fire inside her.The streetlights highlighted her face. She looked even more beautiful at night. The lights sharpened the soft contours of her cheekbones, the curve of her lips. But what kept me staring at her wasnât her beautyâit was the fire she had inside. A fire I had totally underestimated. Hell, I didnât even know it existed.I never thought she had it in her. Not Joan. Not the meek quiet maid who barely spoke when I was in the room. She couldnât even look me in the eye most times. But tonightâĶ tonight she had proven
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 63
DERRICKâS POVThe moment I stepped off the ballroom floor, I could still feel the ghost of Joanâs touch on my skin. Her warmth, her softnessâit lingered, and I hated it. I clenched my fists, shoving past the crowd as I stormed out of the ballroom.The air outside was cool, but it did nothing to stop the fire burning inside me. I needed to get away from her, from the way she made me feelâlike I was on the edge of losing control.Damn it.I leaned against a pillar in the hallway, inhaling sharply. This wasnât supposed to happen. I wasnât supposed to feel anything. I had vowed to never let another woman under my skin again. Love was a liability, a weakness I couldn't afford. Not in my world. Not as a mafia boss. If my enemies caught even a whiff of somethingâof someoneâI cared about, theyâd exploit it. Theyâd use her against me. And Joan... Joan was already too close.Besides, a woman had hurt me before and Iâd be damned if I let it happen again.Women. They were all the same. Theyâd act
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 62
DERRICKSâ POVI stood near the balcony, holding a cigar in my hands. I needed it to calm me down.I took a long drag, inhaling deep, letting the nicotine burn its way through my chest. It was the only thing keeping my nerves in check. Antonio had made his threat clearâhe would stand against me at the table, and that was not something I could afford. He had a name that carried weight. His father had once been one of the godfathers. That legacy alone made the old men at the table listen to him, respect him. And now, with my seat hanging by a thread, I could not let him turn them against me.I exhaled, watching the smoke curl into the night air. Losing my place wasnât an option. It was my fatherâs legacy, something I had bled for, killed for. Everything I had worked for would be undone if the godfathers saw me as weak, as incompetent. I would never get the chance to be the next Don. And Henry, my bastard of a stepbrother, was already waiting like a vulture, ready to take what was mine.W
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 61
DERRICKâS POVThe gala was in full swing. Laughter and the clinking of champagne glasses filled the air, but I barely noticed. My attention was elsewhereâon the delicate hand entwined with my own. Joanâs fingers were smaller than mine, softer. Her touch sent heat racing through my veins.Damn it.I tried to ignore it, to dismiss the sensation as insignificant, but my body betrayed me. My pulse quickened, and my grip involuntarily tightened around hers for the briefest second before I forced myself to relax. This wasnât supposed to happen. I wasnât supposed to feel anything. Not after what my ex had done to me. I had vowed never to let another woman past my defenses again.But JoanâĶShe was different, wasnât she?âDid you hear me?â Joanâs voice cut through my thoughts.I blinked and turned my head slightly, meeting her warm brown eyes. I adjusted my features into their usual neutral mask. âWhat?âShe smiled. Her genuine expression made something in my chest twist painfully. âI said yo
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 60
DERRICKâS POVI stood in my office. My fingers curled around the stress ball Joan had given me.Another shipment gone wrong. Another goddamn failure.Someone was sabotaging me from the inside.My jaw clenched, and I rolled the ball in my palm, squeezing it so tightly my knuckles turned white. This had happened too many times to be a coincidence. I thought I had gotten rid of the mole, but it seemed like there was another rat scurrying in my team.A hundred million. Gone. The godfathers would be furious. Theyâd question my competence, whisper among themselves that I was slipping. And if they decided I was no longer fit to lead, theyâd strip me of my power and hand it over to Henry, that snake, who had been eyeing my position for years.I couldnât let that happen.Behind me, Santi and Ace stood stiffly. They knew what this meant, how deep this betrayal cut. But I wasnât in the mood to hear their excuses.âWho the fuck is it?â My voice was filled with annoyance âWho the fuck keeps doing
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 59
JOANâS POVThe sun shone through the windows of the kitchen. I was standing near the stove, overseeing the staff, just as I always did. The morning routine was the same as every other, but the air felt thick today. I could hear it. everyone could. Whispers, too quiet to catch, but loud enough to make the staffâs movements hesitant, almost self-conscious. There was an interrogation ongoing. Because of the incident last night, saff members were being questioned and everyone was scared. The weight of it all was heavy on my shoulders, and I couldnât help but feel that I was at the center of it all, the reason for all this chaos. If it werenât for the attack on me, none of this would be happening. I hated that it had all come down to this.Emilyâs voice broke through my thoughts.âThey're letting a lot of people go,â she muttered, her eyes scanning the kitchen âCanât say they didnât deserve it, butâĶâI finished for her with a sigh âItâs because of me, isnât it?âShe nodded, biting her lip.
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 58
JOANâS POVThe incident with the masked man left me shaken. No matter how much I tried to push it from my mind, the memory clung to me. Every creak of the floorboards, every flicker of movement in my peripheral vision, made my heart hammer in my chest. I found myself growing paranoid, constantly looking over my shoulder as if the masked man would come out from the darkness at any moment.Later that night, as I sat curled up on my bed, hugging my knees, my bedroom door creaked open. My pulse spiked, and I held my breath until I saw Derrick step into the room. His presence filled the space, commanding as always, but tonight, something else lingered in his gazeâconcern."Are you okay?" he asked. His voice was softer and lower than usual, as if he was afraid heâd startle me.I nodded, forcing a small smile, even though my hands trembled slightly against my arms. "I'm fine. AndâĶ thank you. For saving me."He studied me carefully. His blue eyes scanned my face as though searching for a lie.
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 57
JOANâS POVThe evening was busy but I didnât mind. I wanted everything to be perfect. After everything Derrick did for me, I wanted to do something for him too.I stood in the kitchen as I supervised the activities around me. Pans sizzled, knives chopped and I ticked all the boxes of everything we need.âItâs going well, isnât it?â Ms Sullivan asked with a smile as she walked out of the kitchen.âSure isâ I called after her. Tonightâs dinner had to be perfect, and I was determined to make it so.âCareful with the sauce, Emily,â I said, pointing at the simmering pot on the stove. âIt needs to thicken just a little more.âEmily nodded as she stirred. The chef gave me a quick thumbs-up as he continued cooking. I laughed. When everything was finally prepared, I helped Emily and Sarah set the long dining table in the dining room. I made sure everything looked alluring to the eye. I even decorated the table with flowers.âThank you, everyone,â I said with a grateful smile once the table w
The Mafia's Contract    Chapter 56
JOANâS POVI had spent the last few days sewing in my sewing room. My mind was focused only on the fabrics and my designs. I had never felt happier.I was sewing again! I was actually sewing again. And this time, I had everything I ever needed and even more. Designing again was a breath of fresh air for me. It was the one place where I felt in control.But that morning, as I adjusted a piece of fabric, Emily entered the room with a smile."Joan," she said "Sir Derrick has called for you."I froze, the needle halting mid-stitch. Derrick? It had been days since I last saw him. I hadnât seen him since the engagement. Irene told me he had gone on a business trip."Really?" I blinked, trying to hide the excitement I felt. "Iâof course. Iâll go right away."Emily smiled at me, and I could see the curiosity in her eyes. "Heâs in his study. And, Joan... Iâve been meaning to tell youâyour pieces, theyâre incredible. You have such a talent."I looked at the mannequins that were now clothed in t
